SMeyer's, not mine.

My appreciation to Sarahsumbrella and SunKing for beta-ing the mess.

Thank you guys for reading. Thank you so much for the reviews and comments. It's what's keeping me going.

CHAPTER 6: Odd Man Rush

The next few weeks were both the most frustrating and most enjoyable of my life. I was with Bella, but I wasn't. We went out, but not together – or at least, not alone. We hung out almost all the time because of our friends. We went out with Jasper and Alice, with Ben and Angela joining us quite often. It got to the point that it was expected she and I would join the other couples. We had settled into something of a comfortable routine. We ate lunch together practically every day, went out on the weekends with our friends, even sat together at football games when the others were paired off with each other. We were friends. We talked all the time – in school, at the activities we all attended together, the places we went with everyone. I talked to her more than anyone else I knew, other than Jazz or Emmett, even though we hadn't quite graduated to that talking on the phone point in our kind-of relationship. I simply enjoyed being with her, and it was so easy. We got to be friends.

We were together so much that people at school actually started to assume we were dating, which suited me just fine. Well, except for the part where we weren't. The guys from the team would ask me if I wanted to go out with them and then stop themselves, saying stuff like "Oh, yeah, you're probably going with Bella to the football game." I wouldn't say anything – confirm or deny – and then I'd end up at the football game with Bella. I had no idea if she was aware of the rumors going around about us, but it didn't seem to bother her if she was. I had backed myself into a corner where I was kind of seeing her without taking any of the risks of dating, but also without any of the real benefits, either.

One of the good things was that Newton was beside himself with jealousy. He sneered at me in the hallway, especially if I happened to be walking with Bella. I'd give him my best smirk back and hover over the girl, feeling completely stupid, like I was staking my claim or something. She wasn't mine to claim, but he didn't know that, and I took shameless advantage. It did become apparent that I'd have to get off my ass and soon. The more I was with her the more I found I really liked her – and not just in a "you're beautiful and I'd like to get into your pants" way. I really liked her. I'd had a crush on her last year, had been infatuated when we first met, but…The more I got to know her the more I really, really liked the girl. I wanted all the benefits.

The time I'd spent with Bella over the past couple of months made me certain she was the real deal – genuine, shy, and kind. I'd unfortunately been burned way too many times in the past by people of all ages and sexes who wanted to use me for who I was, what I did, who I was related to, or how I looked. I'd learned not to take people at face value, but I was as sure as I could be that Bella really was interested in me for me, not those other superficial things or her own self-interest. I'd been a pussy, not asking her out, existing in this weird pseudo-dating limbo, but I felt justified in taking my time and being cautious considering my past dating history. I'd certainly learned from my mistakes.

And I was pretty sure she was interested in me as something more than a good buddy. I had caught her watching me sometimes, the kind of watching that a girl who was interested in a guy would do – the long, lingering looks, the glancing away when I'd catch her and trying to act like she hadn't been, the quick peeks out of the corner of her eye when she thought I wasn't paying attention. But I was always paying attention to her, even when she thought I wasn't. She wasn't like most of the other girls in school. I didn't think that her staring was simply because of my stupid fucking face. I'd had experience with way too many people interested in me just for my looks or ability, and it was damn frustrating. It was hard to tell who was sincere and honest, and so tiring trying to figure it out, constantly being on guard. It was one of the reasons I was so careful around people until I got to know them. I'd taken the time to get to know Bella, and I just felt good when I was with her.

September moved into October. The Homecoming Dance was coming up, and I knew that if I didn't ask her to the stupid thing, I'd never forgive myself. If someone else made their move while I was running around being a pussy, well…It'd totally be my fault, but I'd still be pissed. So I made up my mind – I was going to ask Bella Swan to the Homecoming Dance. It was the perfect opportunity to ask her to go out with me officially, formally, and with no mistake or possibility that it could be construed as just hanging out together as friends.

Of course, as soon as I decided to make a move, our practices stepped up in intensity. The first hockey game of the season was scheduled for the weekend after Homecoming. It seemed I was constantly in a state of mental and physical exhaustion. There had been talk of college scouts coming to some of our games, and I knew I had to be prepared. Dad had also told me that some college recruiters had contacted him and were going to be at an upcoming Vancouver Canucks game. They'd expressed an interest in meeting me, as had the Canucks organization. It wasn't the first time I'd talked to or met with recruiters from colleges or the NHL, but it was getting more serious. I would probably have to make a decision about which college I was going to attend by the end of my junior year.

My mom and dad and I had talked it over pretty extensively and decided that I would graduate from college before playing hockey professionally. It was a hard decision, as most of the high caliber players started in the NHL right out of high school, but in the end I agreed with my parents. I wanted a college education – that had been something that my family held in high esteem, and no one could predict how long my NHL career would actually last. I wanted to play professional hockey more than anything, but there were other things I eventually wanted to do, as well. We'd also decided that I'd wait until after I had graduated to participate in the NHL Entry Draft, but I was still interested in what the different organizations had to say. In the Entry Draft, the NHL teams drafted and signed players, but I could still play college hockey until I graduated before joining the team that signed me. I'd be eligible for the upcoming Draft, which occurred every June, but since I wasn't planning on playing professionally until after college, waiting one more year would only be a benefit. It would give me additional time to train, condition, and develop physically.

When Dad told me that the scouts were going to be at the game scheduled for the same weekend as the Homecoming Dance, I wanted to pound my head against the ice in frustration. Of course. Didn't it figure? Dad was all about making plans for the two of us to go to Vancouver that weekend, hang out, catch the game, meet with the scouts, the whole big father-son trip. Normally I would have been excited to go as he as I always had a blast together, but the stupid fucking dance I wanted to ask Bella to had to be the same weekend. It never occurred to my dad I'd want to go to the dance instead of going with him to Vancouver, because I'd never gone to a school dance before in my life. I'd never had any desire to go, and there'd never been a girl I wanted to go with. But of course this time there was – and it was the same weekend I should be meeting with scouts, talking about my career and my future.

I couldn't help but feel Bella Swan might be part of my future, too.

I knew it sounded overdramatic – especially since I hadn't even been out on an actual date with the girl, let alone kissed her or established any sort of romantic, intimate relationship with her – but the feeling wouldn't go away. She just felt right to me. Perfect for me. I thought about her all the time. I wanted more. It was time to do something about it.

I was unsettled, fidgety, and anxious, and it had nothing to do with the first game of the season that was fast approaching, or meeting the scouts in Vancouver. It was all about Bella Swan. The Friday before Homecoming, I finally decided I was going to have to turn to Alice for help. She was Bella's best friend, and I was at the point where I wasn't above using that connection to find out if she thought Bella would go to the dance with me. I found myself driving over to Jasper's after school, knowing that Alice would show up there eventually.

"Hi, Edward," Mrs. Whitlock greeted me. "Jasper's in his room. Jasper, honey!" she called. "Edward's here." She beamed at me. "Did your parents get the latest note from Rosalie and Emmett? He's doing so well. They seem to be enjoying college so much."

I smiled noncommittally. They were enjoying something about college, but I knew it had more to do with being unsupervised and on their own together than any educational opportunities.

"Go on up," she encouraged me. "He probably has his earphones in."

I nodded and went up the stairs, knowing my way around the Whitlock home as well as I knew my way around mine. I pushed his door open without knocking, and he smirked at me in the reflection of the mirror.

"Bitch," he greeted me.

"Jackass," I acknowledged.

With the pleasantries over, I sighed and lay across his bed, picking up the latest issue of Rolling Stone he had lying there. "Bourgeois crap," I teased him.

"You know I love it when you speak Spanish, handsome," he mock growled at me, and I laughed. I was feeling better already.

I flipped over on my back and watched curiously as he licked a finger and pressed a stray lock of blond hair down. Yeah, like that would help. His hair was almost as bad as mine. "Primpin', Big Daddy?

He tossed one of his fucking fedoras on his head and tweaked the brim. He had something on his iPod I could hear, even though I was sitting across the room – Chuck Berry? What the fuck? "Are you seeing Alice later?" I asked, wanting to know for my own nefarious purposes and trying to find a reason for the unusual concern over his looks.

He grinned. "Oh, yeah. She's on her way over now." He shot me a look out of the corner of his eye. "She's coming to your first game of the season with me. We're going to try to get Bella to come with us, too."

I started to say something, hoping maybe he had some insight to offer, or could at least commiserate on the mysterious workings of the female mind, but suddenly the reason for the music came to me. "The fifties stuff you're listening to wouldn't have anything to do with a certain young lady wearing a poodle skirt to school today, would it?"

He got a really weird, dreamy look on his face, an expression I'd never seen before. "A poodle skirt." He shook his head, and the weird look was gone. He met my eyes.

"Only Alice," we said together, and laughed.

He tossed off the fedora – thank Christ – and picked up a brown leather jacket. Okay, that was going too far. "I'm telling you right now, Jazz, you start getting all Happy Days on me and 'ehhhay' with the thumbs and shit, I won't be able to control myself. I'll be all over your pretty little bitch ass."

He laughed. "Yeah, but that motorcycle was way cool." We both paused and considered that.

I broke out of the contemplation and shook my head again. "The good Doctor Cullen would have a coronary if I even mentioned wanting a motorcycle." Not to mention Coach.

"Yeah," Jasper sighed. "So would Commander Whitlock. Hmm, I might have to think on that one a little more." He gave his reflection one last look. "I dunno, maybe I could beat my hair into one of those – whaddya call it? – duckasses or something?"

"It would take a whole truck of that grease shit. Truck loads." He took the jacket off and threw it at me. I batted it away, and it landed on the bed. "Anyway, the whole fifties fantasy thing is kinda starting to creep me out," I admitted. "That red-headed Ron Howard shit." I shuddered. "Ugh."

"Yeah, but Joanie really did love Chachi," he said, and I looked at him incredulously before busting out laughing. He came out with the weirdest shit sometimes. The boy was just like that.

"How do you know about fucking Joanie Loves Chachi?" I managed to gasp. "That was, like, years before your time."

"Yours, too. Re-runs, bitch."

"Jasper?" Alice came into the room – wearing jeans, I was glad to note – and skidded to a halt when she saw me, smiling at my laughter. "Hi, Edward!"

Jasper started humming the theme to Happy Days as he moved to her. "Hey, did you bring the poodle skirt?" he asked, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

Alice walked over to the dresser, picking up the earbuds he'd left lying there. She listened for a second before grimacing and setting them back down. She lifted an eyebrow at Jasper's jacket lying across the bed and moved toward me to run her fingers along the soft leather. She made a sound of approval and turned to arch a brow at him.

"I'll wear it if you change back into the poodle skirt," he said, returning the expression.

"Ugh," I groaned. "I'm right here, you know."

Alice went over to Jasper to give him another quick kiss, and then turned back to me, her arms around his waist. "So, Edward, what have you been up to? Besides practice."

I shrugged, looking down at the bedspread. It was now or never, I thought, and I didn't want it to be never. "Not much, really. But I do have a question for you."

I could see her tip her head inquiringly as I paused. She looked up at Jasper when I didn't continue right away, but he just shrugged. "Okay," she finally said when the silence stretched out too long. "What is it?"

"Well, I want to ask you a question about Bella Swan."

Suddenly she was sitting right next to me. I flinched in surprise, and then again when Jasper appeared right beside her. They were both perched on the edge of the bed, leaning in toward me, with identical expressions of wide-eyed surprise and excitement. It was a little scary. I shrank back as they started firing comments off one right after the other.

"You do?'

"Really?"

"Awesome!"

"It's about fucking time."

Jasper smacked my shoulder, and Alice grabbed my hand. She held it between hers and bounced enthusiastically. I tried to extricate myself and ease away, but I almost fell off the bed. They had obviously been talking about this between themselves, and I felt a brief flash of irritation with my best friend. It was over in an instant, though. I knew with Alice being Bella's best friend there was bound to be some discussion of the subject. I just hoped that Alice was cool enough not to divulge what Jasper had obviously told her in confidence.

"Well, what do you want to ask?" Alice was beaming with excitement.

I looked warily back and forth between them. "Um, I was just wondering if maybe she might have mentioned anything about me."

"Like what?" Alice's excitement dimmed a little as she frowned at me in confusion. Jasper rolled his eyes.

"Like, you know…if she likes hanging out and stuff." Okay, I wanted to smack myself. That was just about the lamest thing I'd ever heard. From their expressions, they thought so, too. "With me. I mean, has she said anything about hanging out with me." Fuck. That wasn't any better.

"I'm not sure what you mean." Alice glanced up at Jasper uncertainly. He was scowling at me.

"The thing is…" I sucked it up and just said it. "I like her. I really like her."

Alice squealed and bounced up and down, rocking the bed.

"But," I said loudly, cringing. "I have no idea if she likes me like that or not. I can't read that girl at all."

"She does, she does, she does!" Alice laughed. "I couldn't say anything before, but now that you've asked, and you've said you liked her first, I can tell you, right? She does like you, Edward. She's liked you forever! She's just really intimidated, and she doesn't know anything about boys and she's so shy sometimes I just want to smack her, but she really does like you, I swear. Oh my God, this is awesome!"

"Really?" My head spun with her enthusiasm and the unexpected information, while my heart pounded in excitement, relief, hope, and disbelief. Bella had liked me forever? What? "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." She reached out and slapped my arm.

"Ow!" I flinched and rubbed the spot. Damn, that actually hurt.

"So…" She looked back and forth between Jasper and me expectantly. "Now what?"

"What do you mean, 'now what?'"I asked.

She huffed and looked like she wanted to smack me again. "You can't expect me to keep this to myself. This is way too important. You like her, she likes you…She's going to be so excited!"

"You can't tell her." I sat up in alarm.

She stared at me in shock. "Of course I'm going to tell her. She's my best friend. The guy she's had a crush on since forever tells me he likes her, and you expect me to not to say anything? Whatever, Edward."

She'd liked me since forever? I was still reeling over that one. There was no way Bella Swan had liked me "forever" and I hadn't gotten some clue, especially considering all the time we'd spent together lately. Right?

"Well, you can't." I looked at Jasper beseechingly. "She can't. Tell her."

Alice spun on the bed to glare at him, and he held his hands up between them. "Sorry, buddy, you're on your own with this one. I'm on her side. I think somebody ought to say something to someone so we can finally be done with all this bullshit."

"I'll say something. I will!" I insisted at their dubious looks. I took a deep breath. "I was thinking about asking her to the Homecoming Dance."

There was complete silence as they both stared at me. Then Alice let out a triumphant shout, pumping her fists in the air, and Jasper fell back on the bed, holding his stomach and laughing so hard he started wheezing.

"What?" I snapped irritably. "What's so fucking funny?"

"You," he gasped. "You at a school dance. You've never been to a school dance in your life. Oh crap, Alice is right. This is going to be awesome."

"You've never been to one, either, and you're going," I pointed out to him.

"Yeah, but she's making me." He flinched when Alice turned on him with a look that promised they'd be discussing that later, but she was too excited to let it distract her.

"Oh, I know exactly what we'll wear," she said, her eyes alight. "Maybe the four of us could go out to dinner or something before, somewhere nice, maybe in Port Angeles. You've got a good suit, right, Edward?"

"A suit?" I asked dubiously. Jasper looked like he was about to start laughing again.

"I know you have some nice shirts and ties from when you've worn them under your stupid hockey jersey – "

"Stupid?" I interrupted, annoyed.

"So I'm going to guess you have at least one nice suit. What color is it?"

"Color?"

"Yes, color." She stood up and went to Jasper's closet. "Jazz is wearing his navy one, because he looks amazing in blue, so if yours is navy, too, we're going to have a problem."

"A problem?" I looked at Jazz in question, but he just shrugged.

"Color, Edward. What color is your suit?" Her disembodied voice came from inside his closet.

"Uh…Black?"

"Perfect. It'll look good on you, and everything goes with black. That gives me – and Bella – a lot of options. What I've got in mind will totally work." She emerged from the closet with Jasper's navy blue suit. She hung it on the door and eyed it critically. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"

"So you think she'll go with me?" I asked.

Alice gave the suit once last glance and then came running across the room to jump on the bed between Jasper and me. She laughed as we both instinctively reached out to steady her.

"Of course! We're going to double date at the Homecoming Dance! You're best friends and we're best friends and this is going to be the best date ever."

She rolled on her side and looked at me expectantly. "So when are you going to ask her? Do you need help? Ideas? It better be soon, you know. You don't have a lot of time and you don't want it to be a last minute thing. No girl wants to feel like a last minute date. You wouldn't do that to her, right? Would you? You better not."

I exhaled loudly and flopped back down on the bed. I had thought this was a good idea why?

It was going to be a complete fucking disaster.